My One and Only Earl (Forever Yours #12) - Stacy Reid Page 0,45

upon you, Miss Poppy,” the butler said, frightening a decade from Poppy’s life.

With as much dignity one could muster, she straightened from the keyhole of the door. She had received a letter from her stepmother this morning requesting Poppy to call at Lavinia’s home. Upon arrival, she had been shown to the drawing-room, which held dozens of bouquets of flowers. All delivered for her. Her stepmother had affected a pleasant countenance and had seemed pleased for Poppy. So had Lavinia. Poppy had then realized they wanted her to marry and off their hands, or better away from the Earl of Kingsley.

They were so transparent in their plotting she had rolled her eyes. For the first time in years, Poppy believed their words and actions had lost the power to wound her. Still, it would not do for Lavinia’s butler to report to his mistress that he had caught her sister eavesdropping.

“There is an explanation for my behavior which might seem rather odd and improper to you.”

He cleared his throat. “I am owed no explanation, Miss Poppy, but I do understand you were eavesdropping.”

She grinned up at him sheepishly. “It is that weird man, Mr. Gilford. He danced with me twice last night but barely conversed with me. Then he showed up here today with the demand to speak with the baron about grave matters that concern our future together. The sheer nerve of the man.”

Humor lit in the butler’s eyes. “And did you find out anything pertinent, Miss Poppy?”

She lifted a finger and wagged it. “He wishes to marry me. I cannot conceive that he would ask Lord Hayes about that matter since I would be joined with him until death parts us. Clearly, my opinion does not matter. Who would marry such a man?”

The butler looked nonplussed and offered no reply.

Poppy cleared her throat. “You said there was another gentleman?”

“Yes, one Lord Fairfax.”

Poppy’s heart jolted. “Viscount Fairfax?”

“Yes.”

“And he asked to call upon me and not Miss Rebecca?”

“Yes.”

Oh! “Has my stepmother received him?”

“Mrs. Ashford and Lady Hayes have not yet returned from their outing, Miss Poppy.”

Poppy took a steady breath and made her way to the smaller parlor where the handsome and quite charming viscount waited. His hands were perfectly clasped behind his back, his broad shoulders relaxed as he stood by the windows staring at some birds perched on a small shrub.

He turned at her entrance, and Poppy was taken aback by the smile that lit his face upon seeing her. She had only danced with him…once or twice…no, it was precisely three times. With another painful jolt of her heart, she realized the viscount has asked her to dance at almost every ball they encountered each other since her return to town.

Good heavens, has he been courting me?

It astonished Poppy that she had never considered it before. She had simply thought him pleasant, and quite good-natured, and a most charming conversationalist.

“Lord Fairfax,” she greeted him, dipping into a curtsy. “What an unexpected surprise, my lord.”

“Is it?” he asked with a smile and a decided twinkle in his light green eyes.

Poppy thought his smile was particularly fatuous. He walked over to her, and it was the first time she had noticed the flecks of gold at the center of his eyes. Those very eyes stared at her with too much warmth.

Bloody hell. It felt good to curse, even if silently.

A few months ago, she had no suitors, and today she had one man presumably asking for permission to marry her now, another one with courting intentions…and another one she was falling in love with, but he did not believe in sentiments.

“Ah…yes.”

“I would like to invite you to a carriage ride in Hyde Park, Miss Ashford.”

Poppy took a deep breath. It was best to be truthful from the get-go. “My lord, if you will permit me to be frank and honest with you?”

“I would have it no other way, Miss Ashford.”

“I am excessively flattered. I cannot express how much, but I…I am not interested.” Poppy winced at how badly that was done. “Forgive me, I do not wish to let you hope in vain, so I must confess that my affections are engaged elsewhere.”

An arrested look appeared on the viscount’s face. “Ah, with Lord Kingsley. He has made it known to all who are watching that you are indeed special. Surely it does not escape your attention that he has not made an offer, nor is he really courting you.”

“I do not believe I said it was the earl.” Poppy